The fifth installment of TNA's original comedy one act show brings us four self-referential plays from the people who brought you those same four plays. This evening of short one act comedies will surely surprise, mystify, and maybe annoy you a little bit.

Frankenstein’s monster? Low on charge. Dracula? Toothless. The Mummy? Dried up. The most terrifying undead being to walk among the living is the one, the only VON BACH!! He returns this Valentine’s Day for an exclusive engagement.

A few days after the death of little known painter Vincent Van Gogh,rumors are flying in Paris. Some say he was a penniless madman, a frequenter of prostitutes, a derelict and soon to be forgotten artist of trifling quality. Others denounce him as a wayward priest and unwelcome foreigner. Many whisper he took his own life in a moment of insanity. His brother Theo, Vincent's confidante and lifelong supporter, is enraged. Tonight, he hopes to set the record straight.

Von Bach 2011
October 20th - October 30th, 2011
@ The Flight Theater in The Complex

He's Back...Frankenstein! Dracula! The Phantom of the Opera! Just a bunch of second rate knock-offs of the original movie monster -- Baron Von Bach. This Halloween, TNA re-animates the shocking true story behind the story as Hollywood readies the one hundredth remake of the undead scientist's immortal saga, but this time, Doktor Von Bach himself surfaces to give new meaning to phrase "development hell."

High School (Reunion) Musical
July 16th & 19th, 2011
@ The Open Fist Theater for the Hollywood Fringe Festival

A staged reading (with live music)

Madison High School is having its 20 year reunion and all the alumni are getting prepared, with song! See how far they've come (and fallen) in this hilarious, over-the-top, and politically incorrect story of love, loss, and patty melts. An original screenplay written by Kristina Hayes andMichael Cornacchia, this will be performed as a staged reading with live music for the Hollywood Fringe Festival. You can find all the info below and we'll see you at the Reunion!

Von Bach 2010 October 29th - November 20th, 2010 @ Art/Works Theatre

Frankenstein! Dracula! The Phantom of the Opera! Just a bunch of second rate knock-offs of the original movie monster -- Baron Von Bach. This Halloween, TNA presents the shocking true story behind the story as Hollywood readies the one hundredth remake of the undead scientist's immortal saga, but this time, Doktor Von Bach himself surfaces to give new meaning to phrase "development hell."

Obsessions May 2nd, 2010 @ Lillian Theatre

Last summer’s hit, "Obsessions," will return for one night only! The women of TNA are back to perform their wickedly entertaining night of original solo pieces as a benefit for The Next Arena’s 2010 season.

Our Own Devices
May 24-26, 2010, 2010
@ Art/Works Theatre

Two tales that reveal how mankind's constant connection to machines can be often ridiculous as well as dangerous. These writers foresaw the dangers of technological progress and their fantasies may have already become reality.

The Next Arena brings you their fourth annual comedy one act festival, TNA Onesies:
this time it’s a satirical look into our possible future, and the bumbling buffoons who
have made it so. The Future? is a companion piece to 2008’s TNA Onesies, titled
Histrionics, which took us on a wild romp through our lesser known history. All works
performed in TNA Onesies: The Future? are world premiere presentations, or rather,
they will be…

the increased difficulty of concentration February 7th - March 28th, 2009 @ The Lounge Theatre

dr. hummel, a social scientist and writer, has a life that’s fragmenting around him. he has troubles with his wife, troubles with his mistress, and troubles with a malfunctioning form of artificial intelligence called puzak. his life goes round and round, repeating itself until hummel barely knows where he is or who is his current lover, as he struggles inside a metaphysical farce.

The Next Arena presents its annual comedy one-acts festival TNA Onesies. This year, in a special fall slot to celebrate this historical election, the event is entitled, "HISTRIONICS". Ever wondered what happened backstage at Lincoln's assassination? What really really went down at the first Thanksgiving? And just how accurate is the anthropology of Indiana Jones, anyway? Those and other pressing questions will be answered in this ridiculous evening of 5 short one-acts (with 3 world premieres!). Join us on a hilarious trip back in time and see what we humans have learned from the past...if anything.

This timeless tale of the relentless power love can have over each of us is told within the confines of a dingy motel room. May and Eddie can't stay away from each other, even though they know they should. An old man watches their struggle from a corner of the room. Love, lies & fantasy, and passion consume the characters and, with poetic ruthlessness, Shepard forces them to tear at one another until, at last, some truth is revealed.

Another installment of TNA's popular summertime comedy one-act event featured all-original works written by members and friends of the TNA community. One-acts included The Hunt, Doc Brown's Folly, Anti-Climactic and The Lineup.

Gamblers is a Mamet-esque comedy that explores the glamorous underbelly of the classic con. In the back room, a card shark stalks his latest mark, revealing some of humanity’s basic truths and foibles along the way.

THE ANGRY GUY IN THE PINK HAT November 10th - December 16th, 2006 (EXTENDED in January!) @ Two Roads Theatre

The Next Arena's fall show for 2006 was a world premiere production written by TNA member Ken Brisbois. It's Sam Shepard does It's a Wonderful Life in this funny, dark and surreal play about the destructive power of anger.

WRANGLING COACH RANKIN (Short film production) Shot in July 2006

Wrangling Coach Rankin is a mockumentary depicting the quest of a motley group of men who achieved unexpected success playing on the Nilton High School Baseball Team. It seemed as though the Team would have a dream season, until a crushing and embarassihng loss in the championship game. Fifteen years after this defeat, the members of the original squad try and locate and convince their cantankerous baseball leader, Coach Rankin, to coach them in a Rematch. They not only seek to reclaim their glory years, but also seek to erase some of the scars that the loss left behind.

WE WON’T PAY! WE WON’T PAY! is an amusingly facetious travesty! Supermarket prices are skyrocketing and the town women have taken matters into their own hands. When the prices get too high, they just take what they want and hide it under their skirts! This staged situation comedy has been re-imagined for the near future while retaining playwright Dario Fo’s initial Italian inspirations.

NOT DEAD YET August 19th - Sept 5th, 2004 @ Elephant Lab

Not Dead Yet, a one-man show, was inspired by the true story of Leo Samson, who finds a way to escape execution in Communist Russia for a new beginning in America. His grandson, Jacob Samson, who returns to modern day Russia to find his roots and the facts behind his grandfather's flight, relates his struggle.

INVITATION TO A BEHEADING August 19th - Sept 5th, 2004 @ Elephant Lab

Invitation to a Beheading was an original adaptation of Vladimir Nabokov's story by the same name. It centered on Cincinnatus C., a man sentenced to death by beheading for the crime of being an individual, but is not told on which day he is to be executed. He waits in his cell as his reality becomes more and more surreal the closer he gets to his inevitable end.

NO EXIT April 16th - May 22nd @ Cell2 Theatre

The Next Arena's debut production was Jean-Paul Sartre's intense one-act, a show that follows the plight of three misfortunates as they slowly come to understand most undeniable of truths: Hell is other people.